• Be sure to Join us Saturday January 8th, at 2:00 p.m.
  • Attend Member University – Patti Reyes will show us several ways to “Put Words on Quilts.”
  • Watch Laura Hartrich make pieced letter blocks for her quilts
  • Send us your 2021 quilts finishes for Show and Share!

Get to Know Our 2022 Board of Directors

CANDY SCOTT, PRESIDENT

I am so excited to be your new IEMQG President and to introduce myself to you all. I have been married to my Australian Husband, Alan, for 21 years. We have 4 children, 4 grandchildren and our cat, Roxi, who often joins me on Zoom.

When I was 8, My mother taught me to sew skirts, dresses and ice skating outfits. As an adult I became an accounting and human resources manager for a chain of retail clothing stores. With at least 6 master tailors available to me, I had no need to sew. When I retired and moved to Palm Desert, CA, I joined a community quilting group and found quilting to be way more fun than making clothes. I found “my people” and never looked back. The friends I have made in the quilting community have changed my life. Without Zoom, I would have dearly missed you all during the pandemic.

With nearly 2 years of this roller coaster pandemic behind us, IEMQG will continue to hold Zoom meetings and workshops until it is safe to set up hybrid meetings (zoom and in-person combined). Additionally we will strive to have safe monthly get-togethers whether we meet at upcoming quilt shows or meet ‘n eat at local parks. We want to stay as connected as possible while staying safe and healthy. We have booked our next quilt retreat for November 7th-10th, 2022, at Vina de Lestonnac and we’ll be sure to let you know when we start taking reservations.

With Covid still hanging around, No one knows what 2022 will bring us, so we’ll remain flexible, find our path forward, and expand our friendships while we build our modern quilting skills and knowledge.

Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing you soon.

LAURA GREENE, VP of PROGRAMS

My Husband, Brian, and I, my 30 year old son Allu, and 27 year old daughter, Heather, love the outdoors. We ski, run, hike, camp, swim and travel. I recently retired from a 38 year career in teaching and now have more time to enjoy my family, my outdoor hobbies and of course my quilting.

In my career I worked to be a good listener and collaborator to build community among my students. As VP of Programs for a second year I hope to do the same for my IEMQG quilters.

I look forward to working with all of you to provide fun and informative IEMQG meetings and activities. As a founding IEMQG member I have been fortunate to serve as President, Secretary, and Committee Chairperson in several areas. As a quilter, I’ve worked to promote volunteerism since 1990. Please feel free to let me know your thoughts for making your IEMQG experience the best that it can be.

PATTI REYES, VP of COMMUNICATIONS

I am thrilled to volunteer as the IEMQG Communications VP. I joined the Guild in 2019, and have made so many new quilty friends. I am a retired civil engineer with a masters degree in business and a current emphasis on “retired“. I love scrappy quilts and bright bold colors and absolutely love exploring different quilting styles. I live in Bermuda Dunes, CA with my husband, Bobby and our beloved dog Rocky. We have 4 adult children and a granddaughter who all live nearby and seem to get most of my quilts. I look forward to keeping you informed on all things IEMQG in 2022. Please let me know if I can help improve your IEMQG experience.

GAYLE BENNETT, TREASURER

I shouldn’t of had that glass of wine at the last Zoom “Drop-in Sew” because now I’m the treasurer again. In all truthfulness, now that I am retired as of October 2021, I have the time and energy to participate with much enthusiasm! My Husband, Mike and I have been married for 17 years, We have 4 adult children and 9 grandchildren. By the way Mike is our unofficial guild photographer. Retirement is great for my productivity. I’ve recently finished a quilt and am half way through a second one. I’ve also made over 300 hundred masks including quite a few for the City of Ontario Police Department. As a founding member of the guild, I have served as President, Treasurer, and Membership Chairperson. I love being a member of the IEMQG and I look forward for having a more active role in 2022.

LYNN HANNA, Co-SECRETARY

I have enjoyed quilting since I retired eight years ago. I think of fabric and quilting techniques as the medium for my art. I am drawn to modern quilts, especially the improvisational, free form aspects, as well as art quilts. I have been an IEMQG member since the very first meeting at the Garcia Center in San Bernardino. As a matter of fact, I was partly responsible for selecting that unpopular location as well a the gray fabric for our very first challenge.

I started my elementary teaching career in Australia, then worked twenty years at the Orange County Outdoor Science School where I met my wife of 42 years, Tricia. When we decided to start a family, I moved to the classroom. Our two boys have grown into wonderful caring and kind young men. One is a fine artist the other is a musician. I am very proud of them.

I enjoy traveling, turquoise blue, geology, and hot fudge sundaes. Debi Gardner and I are job sharing the secretary position. This will give me more time to travel when the pandemic resides.

DEBI GARDNER, Co-SECRETARY

I am pleased to volunteer as Co-Secretary with Lynn Hanna. I joined the IEMQG at the first ever guild meeting and have loved every minute of membership . I live in Redlands and have two grown daughters, six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. I look forward to keeping updated on all that goes on in our monthly meetings.

This seven part series began in October 2020 by our very own guild member, Lynn Hanna. She takes us through the elements of What is a Modern Quilt in great detail and follows with examples of beautiful quilts. This is a long post so grab your beverage of choice and enjoy!

Modern quilts are primarily functional and inspired by modern design.  Modern quilters work in different styles and define modern quilting in different ways, but several characteristics often appear which may help identify a modern quilt.  These include, but are not limited to:  the use of bold colors and prints, high contrast and graphic area of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, expansive negative space, alternate gridwork.  “Modern traditionalism” or the updating of classic quilt designs is also often seen in modern quilting.

Part 1 – Bold Color and Prints

One characteristic of Modern Quilts is the use of bold colors and prints.

BOLD means:

• Courageous and daring
• Not hesitating to break the rules of propriety
• Challenging
• Imaginative
• Flashy and showy to the eye

Part 2 – High Contrast and Graphic Areas of Solid Color

One characteristic of Modern Quilts is the use of high contrast and graphic area of solid color.

High contrast could be from color complementary colors, saturated/pastels shape geometric/organic, variety of triangles texture quilting density, variety of fabrics value black and white/shades of grey size thick/thin lines, large/small shapes pattern floral/geometric, solid/busy detail.

Graphic means:

• Giving a clear and effective vivid picture
• The use of diagrams, graphs, or mathematical curves
• The use of the written word or computer generated image

Part 3 – Alternate Gridwork

Modern quilts often use alternate gridwork. Alternate gridwork means arranging your quilt in unconventional or unexpected ways.

-Stagger blocks as you arrange rows and columns:

-Leave open spaces in place of blocks:

– Arrange blocks to float in negative space:

-Place all blocks at the top or bottom of the quilt:

-Add sashing between blocks to change the design shapes:

Part 4 – Improvisational Piecing

Modern quilts sometimes improvisational piecing.

WHAT IS IMPROV?

“Improvisation is about exploring. It is about finding your own way and making your own decisions through noticing your own preferences and pattern of mind.” — Sheri Lynn Wood

“Improvisational compositions in quilting are similar to improv in jazz music; making things up on the spur of the moment and feeding off each other’s energy. Start with two pieces of fabric and sew them together. Maybe you like the colors together or the shapes created. You don’t know exactly what the final design will look like. Once the process begins, each choice of color or shape influences the next.” – Cindy Gisdela

Improvisation is:

• Problem solving as you go; it’s all in the process
• Free from perfection; shows the had of the maker
• Working without a plan; responding to each new addition as you go
• Making do with what you have
• Taking risk, breaking rules and creating spontaneously
• Setting your own limits

-Improv blocks assembled in grid formation:

-Improv columns, rows or other large shaped areas assembled together similar to the construction of a traditional quilt:

-Improv motive can be repeated in various scales, colors, or orientations:

-Sometimes the quilter plans the quilt to become an image or picture and improvisation is used in the cutting and assembly:

-Sherri Lynn Wood suggests using “scores” for improv quilting. These are parameters or rules you set for yourself to allow improv to occur:

-Irene Roderick teaches a technique she calls “dancing with the wall.” You make design choices as you go, putting elements on the wall and rearranging them as the quilt “directs” your dance:

-Improvisational quilts can be anything goes, break rules, and take on a life of their own:

Part 5 – Minimalism

WHAT IS MINIMALISM:

• The word comes from a popular art movement in the 1950’s and 1960’s
• Art was characterized by extreme simplicity
• Work glorified use of line and form
• Well know painters who used this style include: Frank Stella, Gene Davis and Elisworth Kelly

Paintings from the Minimalist Art Movement:

-Minimalism in Modern Quilting:

• Simple and impactful graphic designs
• Often a limited color palette
• Images limited to essential elements
• Large scale piecing
• Linear and echo quilting

Simple, Impactful Design:

-Limited Color Palette:

-Images limited to Essential Elements:

-Large Scale Piecing:

-Linear and Echo Quilting:

Part 6 – Negative Space

Modern quilts may use expansive negative space.

-Negative space is the unoccupied area that surrounds the objects, shapes, or forms in a composition:

-Ideas to consider as you plan to use negative space in your own quilts:

• Negative space can be the space surrounding blocks:

• Negative space can be within a block itself:

• Negative space flows in, around, and between our quilt blocks:

• Negative space does not have to be just one color:

• Negative space can define shapes:

• Sometimes the negative space also forms a design element that becomes part of the composition:

• Sometimes the negative space and the figure are indistinguishable:

• Negative space can create movement:

• Negative space can draw your attention to a focal point or highlight emphasis in the quilt design:

• Negative space can give the eye a place to rest:

• Negative space can create a secondary design element:

• Negative space can unclutter a design:

• Negative space can be used to scatter or disperse a design:

• Negative space can be used to concentrate a design in one area:

• Negative space can be used to balance an asymmetrical design:

• Negative space can be used to repeat a design element from the block:

• Negative space can be a place to highlight quilting designs:

Part 7 – Update a Classic Quilt

• Change the scale
• Alter block shape or orientation
• Use color placement as a design element

Change the Scale:

Alter Block Shape or Orientation:

Use Color Placement as a Design Element:

In summary, the elements of a Modern Quilt include:

• Use of bold colors and prints
• High contrast and graphic area of solid color
• Improvisational piecing
• Minimalism
• Expansive negative space
• Alternate grid work
• Update of classic quilt designs

Please refer to this post as a reference any time you need inspiration and/or a refresher on what elements make up a modern quilt!

Thank you so much Lynn!!!